We were informed this afternoon that, despite 3 years of negotiations
with the City and individual meetings with 6 City Council Members over
the past few weeks, Council Member Tom Rasmussen â€“ the head of the Parks
Committee â€“ is ready to kill our proposal to renovate Building 11 and
thus evict â€“ **almost immediately** â€“ Sail Sand Point, Seattle Raft &
Kayak, Hobie Cats NW and all the other tenants of Building 11.

Apparently, there is absolutely no support on the Parks Committee to
even forward our proposal to the full Council for a vote.

It seems our City Council Members have no idea about the impact our
programs and services have on the community.

*The only way we can conceivably get a supporting vote is for our **
*supporters, sailors, kids, neighbors, etc. to pack the house and make *
*the Council realize that we are not happy with this decision.*
*
While both the committee and time are working against us, we believe
that, with the steadfast support you all have shown in the past, we can
make them see that we are an integral part of our community.

This is a very real threat to all of us here in Building 11 and we need
your support more than ever, now that the impending meeting is scheduled
for this *Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 9:30 am*.

Again, we realize it is late notice, but please mark your calendars for
this upcoming *Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 9:30 am* and make an appearance
at Seattle City Hall to show your support for Sail Sand Point.

The meeting will be held at the Seattle City Hall, second story
Council Chamber (at the top of the grand stairway).

The official City Hall address is 600 4th Avenue, but the building takes
up the entire block bounded by 4th, 5th, James and Cherry. There is a
convenient parking garage on 6th between Cherry and James â€“ City Hall is
a block west (toward the water).

If you are coming from Magnuson Park, take I5 south and get off at
Exit 165A towards James Street. Merge on to 6th Avenue. The
parking garage is just past Cherry (see attached map).

Please arrive a little early (at least 9 am) and if you can speak in
support of the programs at Building 11 that would be fabulous. Even just
showing up in support would be greatly appreciated. The more kids the
better!

*Letâ€™s show the City Council how important saving Building 11 and Sail **
*Sand Point is!**

We request that you consider the proposal for Building 11, and approve it for the best interests of the Community and the City of Seattle.

In August, 2005, The City of Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation Enterprise Division issued a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) for development of several buildings at Magnuson Park. On behalf of Sail Sand Point, a non profit 501(c) 3 Corporation, operating a Community Sailing Center on the north shore of Magnuson Park, I was pleased to submit a response to the RFQ, along with TRF Pacific, the proposed Developer. The Qualifications were accepted, and Building 11 LLC was formed to respond to the Request For Proposal (RFP) issued in Feb, 2006. Building 11 LLC was selected as the successful proposal, and negotiations were started.

After two years of review and negotiations, the final proposal was set to go to the Seattle City Council for approval. We request that this proposal be accepted.

A similar Proposal was submitted by The Mountaineers for Building 67. The lease proposal was accepted and the remodel is nearly completed, with occupancy expected later this year.

Many have written to you with their support for the Building 11 LLC proposal, including reports of their experience at Sail Sand Point, Seattle's Community Sailing Center. Another example of the Community Outreach Free Sailing programs that have been offered by Sail Sand Point is the "Fast and Fun" program see http://www.ussailing.org/multihull/fast&fun.htm As noted in the Seattle articles, the program started a Magnuson Park in 2002, and continues today. The specific target for this program is the youth that would not normally have access to water activities with emphasis on minority and disadvantaged groups.

The Seattle Parks and Recreation, Sand Point Magnuson Park recognized this program with the "Certificate Of Appreciation" on Neighbor Appreciation Day, Feb. 8, 2003.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Caleb Tarleton
Magnuson North Shore Recreational Area Project Advisory Team
Sail Sand Point Board, Past President

First, thanks to all that responded to our request to Email the Seattle City Council in support of Bldg 11 LLC and Sail Sand Point. It was short notice. We were advised last Friday of the meeting today, and the intent of Councilman Rasmussen to kill the proposal by Bldg 11 LLC. Most of the Hobie Cat sailors were already at Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island for the North West Championship. Many of the monohull sailors, 30 ft and up, were also on the way to "Race Week" also at Oak Harbor, being held this week, with over 130 sail boats taking part.

Supporters of Bldg 11 LLC and Sail Sand Point packed the City Council meeting to a standing room only crowd this morning. Channel 4 and 5, plus 21 were there to film the proceedings.

Councilman Rasmussen explained his reasons for objecting to the Proposal, two much private participation, and not enough control by the City over the Lease. Public comments were then allowed, lead off by Bill Fuller, Principal, Fuller Sears Architects, and Partner in Bldg 11 LLC. Bill is also on the Board of SSP. His son Chris attended several classes at SSP, and is now one of our Instructors. Several other people also spoke in support of Bldg 11 LLC, and SSP including our Founder Jonathan Edwards.

Later, in the Full Council meeting the Proposal was rejected by vote of 7 to 0. This was very unfortunate for the Bldg 11 LLC people who have spent the last two years negotiating the Proposal with the City, at great personal time and expense.

As noted in prior messages, the City started this process in August 2005, after they were unable to raise the funds to upgrade Bldg 11 to a legal occupancy condition. Temporary occupancy has been allowed on a month to month basis. This year, two similar buildings in the Park were shut down on short notice. Sail Sand Point and other occupants in Bldg 11 have a "Concession Contract" to occupy the Building with the ability to have the agreement terminated on 30 day notice. After gaining approval in the Request for Qualification, then being selected in the Request for Proposal phases, Bldg 11 LLC (Limited Liability Corporation) was selected to proceed. During the next two years negotiations proceeded, with each concern resolved, including type of tenants. The Mayor and Parks Department were in agreement with all of the Proposal conditions, and it was to go to the City Council for final approval.

A similar long term lease was approved by The Mountaineers and they are now finishing their building and will move in later this year.

The decision by Councilman Rasmussen to block the award was a shock to everyone. You may have received the Email from Councilman Rasmussen, before the meeting that he would support Sail Sand Point and our program and help us continue in operation. A similar message was just sent by Councilman Burgess, indicating their desire to keep Sail Sand Point as a tenant.

While we hope for the best, we know there is no City money available for the promised help, or even to tear down or mothball Bldg 11. The Bldg 11 can be shut down on short notice, and Sail Sand Point would be without a home.